We only carry the best products that work as recommended by our clinical experts. If a product doesn't work, or meet our quality expectations, we don't offer it to you! It's as simple as that. We let you decide the level of relief you need by providing tiered products from light to extreme pain.

What is Heel Pain?

Heel pain is most often caused by plantar fasciitis - a condition that is sometimes also called heel spur syndrome when a spur is present. Heel pain may also be due to other causes, such as a stress fracture, tendonitis, arthritis, nerve irritation, or rarely a cyst.

Heel Spurs

Heel spurs are commonly seen with plantar fasciitis and heel pain. Sometimes the heel spur can be on the bottom of the foot or the back of the heel.

The heel spur is a bony overgrowth of calcium caused by the excessive strain and pull on the Achilles tendon or plantar fascia. The spurs are kind of a way your body is trying to heal itself. The spurs are not typically surgically removed anymore. Many people and products out there claim to dissolve spurs, but this is just silly. The spur can only be removed by a surgeon. Heel spur syndrome, which is pain in the back of the heel or the bottom of the heel responds well to conservative options like bracing. See our recommended products to help alleviate your symptoms today!

What is plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation of the band of tissue that extends from the heel to the toes. In this condition, the fascia first becomes irritated and then inflamed-resulting in heel pain. The symptoms of plantar fasciitis are:

Pain in the bottom of the heel

Pain that is usually worse upon arising

Pain that increases over a period of months

People with plantar fasciitis often describe the pain as worse when they get up in the morning or after they have been sitting for long periods of times. After a few minutes of walking the pain decreases, because walking stretches the fascia. For some people the pain subsides but returns after spending long periods of time on their feet.

Causes of plantar fasciitis

The most common cause of plantar fasciitis relates to faulty structure of the foot. For example, people who have problems with their arches - either overly flat feet or high arched feet - are more prone to developing plantar fasciitis.

Wearing non supportive footwear on hard, flat surfaces puts abnormal strain on the plantar fascia and can also lead to plantar fasciitis. This is particularly evident when a person’s job requires long hours on their feet. Obesity also contributes to plantar fasciitis.

Options to help plantar fasciitis

Bracing. Bracing helps keep the foot in a corrected position while the acute pain is present. The Ortho Heal helps offload the plantar fascia, massage the heel pain all day and restrict excessive pronation and supination to alleviate the heel pain.

Orthotics. Once the acute pain of heel pain starts to decrease, orthotics are helpful to continue the course of offloading the plantar fascia for good long term results.